Pope hailed for praying toward Mecca like Muslims | Top News | Reuters.com
You've got to be kidding me. It isn't that I consider a Pope to be a leading spiritual leader in my life, but I do recognize that millions of others look to him for guidance. Is this what they have to look toward? A man who kisses the Koran and says that he receives "god's word" and a man that bows before a false god and turns his face toward their mecca. He can somehow call Islam a peaceful faith?
Even if he was praying to YHWH...his example sent a message to millions of Muslims and Christians.
It isn't the visit itself that bothers me. I've been to visit Hindu temples, mosques, Buddhist temples, etc. In the process of traveling all over the world, I've had opportunities to see a lot of other houses of religion. I've learned a lot. Every time I visit I am careful to act respectfully while I am in their facility. I do think there is a level of courtesy and respect that you have for people...I think that respect can open doors for the gospel. Paul shows us this example in Athens. I embrace the attempts to bring peace and reach out to the Muslim community. That in itself is exactly what Jesus would call us to do. That's what Ambassadors for Christ should be all about. I love Muslims. However, I don't love Islam. My problem comes in here. I would not mind visiting a mosque from an educational and outreach perspective...but I would never go to the point of bowing before muhammad.
I just wonder what message the Pope sent to millions of people who look to him for guidance. If that message is..."Hey...we need to love muslims and reach out to them"...great. If the message is that the Bible and the Koran are both words from God...then I have a huge problem with that point. If the message he sent is "hey...there really isn't that much difference...muhammad or Jesus...take your pick"...then I'll take a break from this blog and vomit.
Well...an expletive feels strangely appropriate...but I'll refrain. So I'll just call it for what it is...wrong. Someday I hope he has the time to read some accounts from the lives of men like Shadraq, Meshach and Abendego (Daniel 3).
Pope hailed for praying toward Mecca like Muslims | Top News | Reuters.com
posted by Jayson French at 10:42 AM
2 Comments:
jayson,
i got the link to your blog from my teammate, Matt Crosser's, website. I really liked your office-esque clips for CIY conference. i thought they were pretty funny.
being over here in italy, i have been keeping a close eye on this topic that you have raised here and have tried myself to be an ambassador for Christ with my Muslim friends.
I haven't gone to any mosques with them or kissed a koran, mainly because they haven't got a mosque here yet, but i have listened to my friends and openly ask them questions about their faith in which i wish someone would ask me about mine.
like you said, ratzinger isn't a 'spiritual leader' for you and he isn't necessarily for me either, but i do see a lot of benefit on a larger scale in what the pope is doing. he's using his influence for good, and not war. With turkey's pending entrance into the EU, this gesture could serve as an open door for ministry to muslims, and to dismiss this gesture or opportunity, in my opinion, is unfortunate.
coming from such a culturally diverse background such as OCC or joplin in general, i have had to really do some listening over here in order to be able to establish good relationships with my friends.
taking the time to learn how to genuinely love people who love islam may make some people want to vomit, but some people are called to go certain lengths than others. there are still texts in the koran that speak of Injil, (jesus) and there is plenty of ground to begin good conversations on their turf. but that could be another conversation in and of itself.
salaam
8:13 AM
jayson,
I been going to ciy ever since i was in 7th grade.I allways love you sermons! Tonight I was just looking trougth random people blog, and found your's so I thought that was kinda cool.I was at the TN5 conference. when the lights went out,It turn out to be one of my favorite ciy memories. Anyways I wanted to comment about the pope. I'm really surprise he did that. It makes him look like he cares more about keeping peace with other nation and relgion, than he does about staying right with God. Isn't praying to mecca. like praying to a idol. This is why I think we need to keep church and Politics Separated. but that just my thoughts
12:29 AM
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